Protable liquefied gas container



INVENTOR R.W. THOMAS m m 9 T1 W: s w AS M o a m I d We U1 wq F R l a m fi T P. 0 P

May '15, 1951 Patented May 15, 1951 PORTABLE LIQUEFIED GAS CONTAINER Rosswell W. Thomas, Bartlesville, Okla, assignor to Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation of Delaware Original application March 18, 1944, Serial No. 527,075. Divided and this application July 30, 1945, Serial No. 607,885

Claims. 1

This invention relates to the storage and utilization of fluids under pressure. More particu larly it relates to a self-service system for storage and utilization of liquefied gases or gases under high pressures for use in home appliances.

This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 527,075, filed March 18, 1944, now Patent No. 2,51%,14'7, granted July l, 1950, for Portable Liquefied Gas Containers.

In recent years there has developed an increased use of liquefied gases for fuel purposes by consumers living beyond city gas mains. Individual containers of the liquid or gas under pressure, such as petroleum gases, propane and butane or the like, readily vaporizing at normal atmospheric temperatures and pressure are connected to service lines leading to the consumers appliances. Then upon adjustment of a control fuel gas is supplied tothe burner as desired.

Heretofore such units for storing and dispensing fuel gas have been improved in design rendering them less bulky and more desirable in other ways than the early large and cumbersome units. These early units satisfactory for industrial uses or large demands proved too heavy and expensive to meet the service requirements of the consurner having a light or home appliance load. Another disadvantage of such units, as far as adapting them for use in small homes, was the requirement of a skilled attendant to connect or disconnect the service equipment. These and other defects were remedied as illustrated in applicants U. S. Patent No. 2,172,310, issued on September 5, 1939.

However, a problem still confronted the industry of devising a still more satisfactory and economical self-service unit susceptible of complete consumer operation in order to supply a large number of potential consumers having a light or seasonal demand. Such a demand is experienced in areas where there are numerous small houses or cottages, as in summer vacation resorts.

Applicant has devised a self-service, system meeting the requirements of this type of service. This has been accomplished by greatly simplifying the present system in many ways, through redesigning the fuel container and connections as Well as the fuse-plug and safety valve.

An object of this invention is to provide a simplified self-service system for the storage and utilization of gaseous fuel.

Another object of applicants invention is to provide such a system which will be portable as well as compact, safe, easy and economical to operate.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a self-service system easy to install, which will require little attention between times of replenishing the supply, and which, after containers forming part thereof are locked in place, is substantially tamper-proof. I

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a small, preferably spherical container to hang from the bottom of a regulator bracket assembly and which may be suspended therefrom by the handle of the container.

Another and further object of applicants invention is to provide a pressure tight assembly with a slip connection between the fuel container and the combined pressure regulator and mounting bracket, thereby eliminating the necessity for a manually operated screw threaded connection.

Another and still further object of this invention is the provision of a combination fuse-plughandle bracket and a combined high pressure safety relief valve-handle bracket.

Still other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure l is a view of an improved container partly in elevation and partly in vertical transverse section through the container, regulator, and mounting bracket;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the container shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the upper portion of a fuel container, fragmentarily shown, and wherein the outlet is sealed by a stopper as for handling, transportation or storage;

Figure 4 is a view of a modified type of improved connector, in vertical transverse section through the connector, with the upper portion of a fuel container fragmentarily shown and the gas inlet of the pressure regulator partly in ele vation and partly in vertical section.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate this invention. A spherical container 18 is shown having a base member [8 annular in shape which serves as a supporting member and to hold the container in an upright position when it is resting upon a floor or not otherwise connected to the self-service assembly. By way of example, this base may be formed from a ring of sheet metal welded to the exterior of the container.

Centrally of this container is a single aperture 88 in which is welded an annular collar 89 bored and internally threaded to receive a valved tap plug 9|]. This tap plug is of the type and construction disclosed in applicants U. S. Patent No. 2,172,311 issued September 5, 1939. It may include a tire core or similar type valve as sembly 9| operated by a push pin 92, a fusible metal insert 93, and a safety-relief valve 94. Operation of this valve assembly in conjunction with nipple 95 and handle 96 will be understood by reference to the above patent and for this reason is not more fully described herein.

A screw threaded upper portion of nipple 95, engages the internally threaded collar 36 of regulator 43 to complete the connection between fuel container 18 and the regulator and also serves to hold the container in place in respect to the regulator. Handle 61, with the bails 98 attached to the container in any suitable manner, may be suspended over the top of regulator housing 70 and locked in place in any suitable manner. However, it will be seen that handle 61 does not serve to support the weight of the container or to maintain a pressure tight connection between it and the regulator when the system is in operation, due to the use of the threaded connection.

Figure 4 illustrates a modified type of con nector for this invention. A container 18 having an aperture 88 in which is welded an annular collar 89 bored and internally threaded to receive a valved tap plug 90. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this tap plug is similar to tap plug 90 of Figure 1. The valve assembly 9! operated by a push pin 92, the fusible metal insert 93, and safety-relief valve 94 are identical. Operation and connection of tap plug 90' in conjunction with the tubular sleeve 34 of the regulator are illustrated in Figure 4. Thus it will be seen that conduit 30' projecting from the upper end of plug 90' may be inserted in sleeve 34 of the regulator and this sleeve extends down into an interior annular groove in plug 90 carrying a flexible packing ring. A sealing engagement is thereby made between the container and the regulator when the handle 81 attached to the bails 68 is placed in position over the top of the regulator as previously described.

It is to be understood that the forms of the invention, herewith shown and described, are preferred examples of the same and that various modifications may be made therein without materially departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable container for liquefied fuel gas comprising in combination a container, said container having an opening therein, a bushing sealed to the wall of said container around said opening, a valve body secured to said bushing, a pressure relief valve in said valve body for relieving predetermined excessive pressure through said opening, means on said valve body for attaching said container to a support for suspension therefrom, a fusible plug in said valve body for relieving pressure upon reaching a predetermined excessive temperature, and a service connection and service valve on said valve body for connection with a gas receiving system.

2. A portable container for liquefied fuel gas comprising in combination a shell, said shell having an opening therein, a bushing sealed to the walls of said shell around said opening, a valve body secured to said bushing, a pressure relief valve in said valve body for relieving predetermined excessive pressure through said opening, a bail on said valve body for supporting said container, a fusible plug in said valve body for relieving pressure upon reaching a predetermined excessive temperature, and a service connection and service valve on said valve body for connection with a gas receiving system.

3. A portable container for liquefied fuel gas comprising in combination a spherical container, a bushing sealed to the Wall of said container around said opening, a valve body secured to said bushing, means on said valve body for supporting said container from a bracket, and a service connection and service valve on said valve body for connection with a gas receiving system.

4. A portable container for liquefied fuel gas comprising in combination a spherical shell forming a substantially spherical chamber, said shell. having an opening therein, a bushing sealed to the walls of said shell around said opening, a valve body secured to said bushing, a pressure relief valve in said valve body for relieving predetermined excessive pressure through said opening, carrying means on said valve body for supporting said container from a bracket, a fusible plug in said valve body for relieving pressure upon reaching a predetermined excessive temperature, and a service connection and service valve on said valve body for connection with a gas receiving system.

5. A portable container for liquefied fuel gas comprising in combination a substantially spherical container shell, said shell having an opening therein, a valve body secured in said opening, a carrying bail secured to said valve body, and a service valve fitting on said valve body for connection with a system for receiving the contents of said container.

ROSSWELL W. THOMAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,172,311 Thomas Sept. 5, 1939 2,307,309 Thomas Jan. 5, 1943 2,354,925 Mills Aug. 1, 1944 

